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Departing Skipper Chambers Truly Humbled Tuesday, 11th May 2021 12:17
Departing Town skipper Luke Chambers says he’s been “truly humbled” by the messages and phone calls he’s received since news of his Blues exit broke yesterday afternoon.
The 35-year-old is leaving Portman Road this summer after nine years, most of that period as captain.
Tributes to Chambers have flooded in on social media from fans and ex-players, while a thank-you thread has been posted on TWTD to Chambers, Cole Skuse and Freddie Sears, who are also moving on after long spells with the Blues.
“Well, what can I say,” he wrote on Instagram. “I have been truly humbled by the amount of messages and phone calls I’ve received over the last 24 hours. I see every single one and to say it’s been a little overwhelming would be an understatement.
“I hope I have done you all proud in the way I’ve tried to lead this great football club. It’s been the honour of my life.But, for now, the chapter has to close and a new one opens.
“To all my team-mates past and present, thanks for the memories and allowing me to be your captain.
“To the Blue Army, thank you for always sticking by me and the team. It’s a tough job these days with everything that surrounds football but I hope you always saw a team which never ever lacked in effort. Yes, at times we lacked quality, but you only ever see half the story.”
Photo: Matchday Images
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Thanks for everything Chambo, you're service to the club over the last decade has been fantastic, and as a young fan who didn't live through the glory days imo I consider you to be a club legend, as your passion for the club has always shown through what has been the clubs worst era in its history. Always been unselfish in playing out of position for the team and doing your best to keep the dressing room together, I'm devastated that you never saw any real success with us. All the best for the future, I hope to see you back as a coach or even a manager one day.
I've never been a Chambers fan! But he has been a good servant for our club. Not the most gifted player but you can't fault his efforts to try and improve our club on & off the pitch. Good luck in your next chapter.
Not surprised there's been a deluge of messages wishing him well. Been ever present since I became an Ipswich fan in 2013. At the club for 9 years during that time gave everything on the pitch. Played through the most horrendous injuries and captained the team to the playoffs. What better role model for the youngsters! Has great leadership qualities and is a real people person. Will be sorely missed by many at Ipswich. I for one am sad to see him go. Wishing him all the best for the future.
I get the sentiment and no doubting he is a genuine bloke with a real affinity to the club BUT to start putting him in the town legend class is laughable. I will remember him as a loyal servant that typified the decline under Evans. Forest got rid and we kept him past his sell by date whilst some quality youngsters came and went; Mings, Webster and Clarke instantly come to mind.
Away from my immature comment above. Berra, Pennington, Collins, Webster, Wilson, Wolf. . Basically every centre back who's played next to him has performed better. A good club man yes. A good footballer? He's been part of the reason for our decline. Onwards and upwards!
Clearly there are still a few that don't recognise the qualities of the man. Presumably the same ones that hounded McCarthy out and landed us where we are today.
It was the right time to part ways going into this new era but he deserves a lot of credit for being such a great servant to the club. His effort and dedication cannot be questioned. All the best Chambo!
I have been a fan for many years and even against the greats this guy is an absolute legend. He bled blue..... His love for the club was undoubted and he was despite what a few 'numpties' believe a good footballer. A centre back who could score goals, lead the line and play at right back, what's not to like. I am gutted he didn't get the Portman Road send off he absolutely deserved I for one would have been on my feet cheering!
There are several mysteries in football. One is how did Beckham play so many games for England. Another is why did Chambers play nearly 400 games for us. Our club has slipped from play off contenders to an average league 1 side. Most quality players have moved on, some even playing in the Premier. We got left with average players & that's the reason for our decline. Chambers tried hard & was dedicated, but this alone is not enough to suceed in a very competitive sport
Ipswich legend,,, superb captain and leader,,,wish he got the chance for promotion to the prem or the last 2 years to the championship,,, thanks for everything Luke
Wish Luke all the best for the future. Cared passionately for the club, kept himself injury free and played lots of games......... and this, it seems, has earned him legendary status in the hearts of a number of ITFC fans.
Its all about opinions but, for me, keeping it factual..........rather than holding a player that has been the spine/mainstay/captain of a team that slid comfortably out of the championship and towards league one mid table obscurity..... without being able to lay a single glove(win) on Narwich during said tenure(a decade)...........I prefer to think of a 'legend' as a player you look up to and respect for their ability ON the pitch.....someone to turn to when the chips are down and they can drive the team forward....who can positively effect change. I often think of players like Matty Holland, Jim Magilton, Mick Mills, Terry Butcher and John Wark when I think of 'Ipswich Legends'.
But hey, times have changed, football has changed, maybe Im just a bit old fashioned.....its all about playing as many games as you can
I don't think anyone would ever deliberately try to have a bad game or be content not to turn up with their best intentions at heart.
Therefore, Luke, thanks for the effort, service and loyalty you've shown us over the last nine years.
At 35, your career at Ipswich Town has now come to a natural end but I wish you well in your next endeavour, whatever that may be.
You have often been branded as the scapegoat for our now customary poor performances and it's true that there have been some horrible mistakes made on the pitch. Yes, you've had your fair share of those but so have the rest of the senior squad members too. One man cannot possibly be held responsible for the catastrophic collapse of a once great football club... except, perhaps, Marcus Evans.
The last few seasons haven't been great by anyone's standards. Not one individual has managed many stand-out performances and we've witnessed a crippling decline in the calibre of player, style and entertainment on offer, culminating in the eventual relegation to the third tier. It has been the worst time to be an ITFC fan in the history of the club and unfortunately, you've had to captain one of the worst sides we've ever had the misfortune to support.
The blame for the decline of our club rests squarely with Evans, not the management or the players. I'm sure most of the players go out to do their best on a weekly basis, but the standard of player we have had at the club since Evans took charge has dropped and dropped and has been nowhere near good enough to compete for the top places in The Championship or even League One.
At least now, with new owners and new investment, we have a renewed optimism around the place and a glimmer of hope that the dreadful decline is at an end. We have hopefully reached our rock bottom and can look forward to reversing that downward trend and having a real go for promotion next season with fresh legs and fresh faces.
It's sad your time at the club has to end this way but all things must change over time.
I'm sure you'll be keeping an eye on the situation from wherever you are next season and will be wishing the club all the best going forward.
Meant well in everything he did for the club but lacked ability. Still he had more ability than all of us on here put together (unless mick Stockwell posts under an alias). Good luck in the future, can easily see him managing with his people skills and likeable character
Cat. And how the standard of our fans has slipped. You are a perfect example of why, in a recent poll, our fans were voted the worst in the country. At the end of the day, was chambers the most gifted player we've had in the past 10 years? No. But was he the most passionate about the club? Absolutely. Itll be a long time before we have another player who cares about our club as much as he does, or stays as long as he has. Yet some cant simply put the criticism behind them and give him the respect he deserves now hes leaving the club.
listening to Mick mills and Brenner at the weekend saying that no one has a bad word to say about chambo says an awful lot about him as a person and a professional.now is the time to wish luke chambers well and thank him for his commitment shown to our club,lets not forget as much as we love our football it is a sport after all,he is most definetly one of the good guys associated in itfc history.i am an older fan but noticed how he always had time to interact with supporters young and older,a genuine guy who wears his heart on his sleeve as they say. good health and good luck chambo!